ROBOTIC ARM OPERATES INSIDE ACTIVE NUCLEAR GLOVEBOX
Description
A team of robotics specialists has achieved a world first by successfully fitting and operating a robotic arm inside an active nuclear glovebox at Sellafield. The Risk Reduction of Glovebox Operations (RrOBO) project is a collaboration between Sellafield Ltd and AtkinsRéalis, in partnership with Cavendish Nuclear and Taylor Kightley Engineering. The challenge it addresses is significant: how to safely clean up and dispose of hundreds of legacy gloveboxes at Sellafield – some up to 60 years old, contaminated, and in difficult-to-access areas. This breakthrough Active Demonstrator project proves that a robotic arm can be retrofitted into existing gloveboxes and operated remotely using the AtkinsRéalis ARGO system. After extensive design and off-site testing, the system was deployed into two gloveboxes at the MOX Active Demonstration Facility, where it carried out a complex set of tasks while maintaining full containment integrity. This achievement removes direct human interaction from hazardous environments, enhancing safety and accelerating decommissioning.
The project was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, and has opened up new opportunities for use across other NDA Group sites. Key highlights:
- World-first robotic arm operated inside an active glovebox
- Collaborative project between Sellafield Ltd, AtkinsRéalis, Cavendish Nuclear and Taylor Kightley Engineering
- Remote operations enabled by the AtkinsRéalis ARGO system
- Supports safer, faster nuclear decommissioning
- Scalable solution for other nuclear sites in the UK and globally
